Sunday was my annual excursion to the Prudential Center to see the parent Devils play Winnipeg. As a season ticket holder here, one of our perks is a free ticket to a selected NJ game (since the big club owns the AHL club, they can do that). This was my third time at The Rock, and this year I did something different: instead of taking a bus the Booster Club provided, I decided to make the drive myself and take the train to Newark, as quite a few others do. Since I do it when I go to Yankee games, why not try it for a Devils game? Now to review my day as a “callup” so to speak:

-Fun game to play while you’re driving down Route 17 towards Route 3 and the Meadowlands: how many Dunkin Donuts can you pass? We lost count after 10.

Hello Secaucus Junction! Yes I actually took a picture of the sign. (via Instagram)

-My first experience on NJ Transit. Similar to the Metro North in New York City but with double decker cars. Pretty fair price (8 dollar round trip from Secaucus Junction to Newark Penn) considering the alternative ($20 to park 2 blocks from the arena and get stuck in postgame traffic…um I’ll pass).

-For those who have never been to downtown Newark…one word to describe it? Ghetto. Just walk one block or so away from The Rock and you’ll turn right back around.

-Pregame meal? Good luck finding a table at a restaurant without having to wait at least an hour. Thank God for the Dinosaur BBQ takeout counter. Didn’t suck having a pregame picnic at Championship Plaza.

As far as the actual game:

The view from my seat in Section 11.

-The two referees from the game? Both former AHL refs, Francis Charron and Mike Leggo. Saw them both during the River Rats days. And they’re apparently still just as bad as back in the day.

-Number of Zajac brothers I’ve seen score this season? 3. Now to get to Colorado and complete the family hat trick (plus 1).

-So is Krys Barch just there for the occasional entertainment if the first period is boring? Just wondering. At least Cam is getting actual ice time down here.

And there’s your first period entertainment…

-You know it was a long day for the parent club when the postgame fireworks show outside seemed to get more applause…and those that came down from Albany were wishing they went to Atlantic City instead.

Despite the loss, I had a great time. Just being in and around a major league enviroment is always fun for me. Especially when you look out onto the ice and see players you’ve met, supported, and befriended over the years as they were getting their careers started.

And now for a few more photos…

At least I got one shot of Marty before his early exit.

If you know me, you figured there was going to be at least one Henrique photo.